Splice for oil-derricks.



P. FOUKES. SPLICE FOR 0H. DERRICKS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18. 1914.

Patented July 13, 1915.

INVENTOR fiZNESSES I pointed PHILIP FOUKES, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPLICE FOR OIL-DERRICKS.

misuse.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13., 191.5.

I Application filed June 18, 1914. Serial No. 845,867.

tween the framed members of derricks and towers made of rolled metal shapes.

Heretofore in fabricating such structures it has been the practice to use bolts to sccure the parts together and the bolts used are necessarily of such size as to require angles of such minimum size in insuring good fabrication, that the weight of the structure is greater than. necessary for the required strength and stiffness. As a result, it is diflicult or impossible to compete with such structures using welded pipe for the legs or posts and in some cases, other parts of the structures as it is the practice to use old second hand, and therefore very cheap, pipe in makingf' such structures. Also in making such structures and using bolts to fasten the parts together, the cost of fabrication is very great owing to the large number of holes to be drilled and the large number of bolts employed in making the joints.

One object of my invention is to provide :1. splice of novel construction which is adapted for use in fabricating derricks, towers and similar structures from standard rolled metal shapes which is strong and durable and is easily and cheaply made and appliedfor use Another object of my invention is to proride 2. splice of improved construction having novel means whereby the number of holes necessary to punch and the number of bolts employed are reduced to a 1ninimum, the necessity of using angles or other rolled 'metal shapes of excess weight is avoided and the cost of fabrication is materially reduced.

Still further objects of the invention will be apparent as the invention is more fully described hereinafter and particularly out in the claims.

Referring part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the leg of a derrick having a splice thereon as constructed and now to the drawings forming arranged in accordance with my im'ention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same, the section ,being taken on the line lit-ll of Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 2 designates a rolled metal angle, (a standard commercial shape), forming one of the legs of a derrick and 3, 2-), are girts, which also are made of a rolled metal angle. Secured to the legs of the angle forming the derrick leg 2, above-and 3 are the diagonals i and 5, the girts and diagonals being formed of rolled angles and used to strengthen and stilfen the long angles 2 which form the derrick logs. The derrick may have three or more, generally four) legs and in making; some structures such as A frames there will be but two legs.

Encircling the angle 2 forming the derrick leg isa bent splice plate (i having edge portions '7' and o bent into substantially parallel planes and having a series of (three being shown) registering holes in the so formed flanges T and 8. Bolts 9 are inserted in the holes to tightly clamp the splice plate (5' in pos tion on the derrick leg 2.

(in the outer face of each of the flanges "7 and 8 is a clamping plate 10 having projecting lugs or cars 11, 12, 13. The side edges of the lugs or ears are bent to form flanges 0r ribs 14- which greatly strengthen and stiffen the lugs so as to prevent bendm The clamping plates 10 have holes therein registering with the holes in the lugs or cars 7 and 8, the clamping bolts 9 for the splice plate also serving to secure the clamping plates in position, in holding engagement with the girts 3 and diagonal braces ''land Instead of using bolts to fasten the ends of the girts and diagonals to the derrick legs, a hemispherical projection 15 pressed or'stan'lped in the ends of one leg of the angle forming the girts and diagonals (see Fig. 2) and pressed or stamped in the lugsv or cars 11, 12, 13on the clamping plates 10 are sumlar Dl'OjGUtlOllS ll), the pro1ections 15 being positioned within the hollow rc'cess or depression made in forming the;

angles 3, l

projections on the ends of the and 5. v

In fabricating a derrick or other structure in accordance with my invention, the bent splice plates (3 are punched and bent to fit the particular size angle used for the derrick legs. The clamping plates 10 are below the girts stamped or pressed to shape and provided with bolt holes for the bolts 9 and also with hemispherical projections or indentations 16. In the construction shown the indentations 16 are formed in each of the flanged lugs or ears of these clamping plates. Angles, of the proper size, are cut to length and projections 15 are provided on each end thereof for engagement With the indentations 16 in the lugs of the clamping plates.

A splice plate 6 is then slipped over the angle 2 forming each derrick leg and a pair of clamping plates 10 loosely secured to the splice plate by means of the bolts 9. The angles 3 forming the girts and angles l and 5 forming the diagonals are then placed in position, with the ends thereof positioned between the lugs or cars 11, 12 and 13 of the clamping plates and adjacent surfaces of the splice plate (3. \Vhen so located, the projections 15 on the ends of the gi'rts and diagonals extend into the indentations on the lugs 11, 12, 13 in holding engagement therewith. e

The bolts 9 are then tightened so as to cause the'splice plate totightly grasp the derrick leg and also to cause the clamping plates to tightly grip the ends of the girts and diagonals, so that a strong and rigid structure is obtained.

The advantages of my improved construc tion will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The number of bolts and bolt holes neces sary is reduced to a. minimum, the parts are securely held in assembled position and thecost of fabrication is materially reduced.

My improved construction avoids the necessity of punching the angles forming the legs of the structure, thereby enabling lighter material to be used in the legs ot the structure and by the reduction in weight further reducing the cost of building such structures.

Modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts may be made Within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In a derrick or like structure, a splice joint comprising a splice plate encircling a leg of the structure, a clamping plate to fasten the bracing members to the leg of the structure, the end of said bracing members i being positioned between the surfaces of the clamping plate and splice plate, saidbracmg members and at least one of said plates having coacting projections and depressions thereon to secure the bracing and plate against relative movement, and a bolt for clamping the splice plate and clamping plate in holding engagement with said leg.

flanges on the clamping plate 2. In a derrick or like structure, a splice fasten the bracing to the leg of the struc-- ture, and a bolt to fasten the splice plate and clamping plate in place on said leg. 3. In a derrick or like structure, a splice oint comprising a flanged splice plate encircling a leg of the structure, a clamping plate to fasten the bracing members to the leg of the structure, and a bolt engaging the and splice plate to clamp the plates on said leg of .the structure, one end of said bracing members being positioned between the surfaces of the clamping plate and splice plate, said bracing members having projections on the ends thereof engaging registering depressions in at least one of said plates to fasten the bracing members to the leg of the structure.-

r. In a derrick or like structure a splice .joint comprising a flanged splice plate enthe end of said bracing members being positioned between the'surfaces of the clamping plate and splice plate, and said \biacing members having projections in the ends thereof engaging registering depressions in said clampingplatestofasten the bracing to the leg of the structure. I

In a derrick or like structure a splice joint comprising a flanged splice plate encircling a leg of the structure, a. clamping plate to fasten the bracing members tothe leg of the structure, and bolting means engaging the clamping plate to clamp and frictionally hold the plates on said-leg of the structure, the endof said bracing members being positioned between the surfaces of the clamping plate and splice plate, and said bracing members having projections in the ends thereof engaging registering de- 

